What credentials should you look for when choosing a dental implant provider?
To become a dental provider, most people complete dental school, pass their licensing boards, and become licensed dentists. After that, many continue their education through continuing education courses, which may range from weekend seminars to several months of additional training.
Some dentists choose to pursue more advanced, structured education through specialty training. This can last anywhere from two to six years, depending on the specialty. To become a prosthodontist, for example, you complete an additional three years of full-time specialty training. Prosthodontics focuses on replacing missing teeth and treating complex dental cases. Over the past few decades, this specialty has also become highly focused on incorporating dental implants into comprehensive treatment plans.
When choosing a dental implant provider, it's important to understand their education, training, and experience with dental implants. A prosthodontist typically has extensive training in planning and restoring dental implants, especially for more complex cases.
When you visit Dental Prosthodontics of Rochester, don't hesitate to ask to see before-and-after photos of previous patients. Seeing real treatment outcomes can help you understand what's possible. Many people believe there are no solutions for their situation, but modern dentistry has advanced tremendously. Today, we have many treatment options available, and we'd be happy to show you what's possible and discuss the solutions that may work best for you.
What dental implant brands and technology do you use, and why?
There are many dental implant systems available today. Some have decades of research behind them and have become well established through long-term clinical studies.
In my practice, although I see patients with many different implant systems, I tend to favor brands that have extensive scientific research and a long track record of success. Some examples include Straumann, Nobel Biocare, BioHorizons, and Zimmer. That doesn't mean other implant brands aren't good, but I generally prefer implant systems that have strong research and long-term clinical evidence supporting them.
Technology has also advanced significantly. Dental implant treatment today is carefully planned rather than simply performed. Every successful implant case begins with thorough diagnostics.
One of the most important tools we use is a CBCT scan. Unlike a traditional two-dimensional dental X-ray, a CBCT provides a three-dimensional view of your jawbone. This allows us to evaluate your available bone volume, determine the ideal implant size and position, and confirm that a dental implant can be placed safely and predictably.
Sometimes the CBCT scan shows there isn't enough bone to support an implant. In those situations, we may recommend procedures such as bone grafting or bone augmentation before implant placement. Proper planning using advanced imaging allows us to provide treatment that is both safe and designed for long-term success.
There really shouldn't be any hidden fees. Your proposed treatment plan should clearly outline everything that's included, and you should understand the costs before treatment begins.
If you require additional procedures, such as bone grafting, or if your treatment plan involves more implants than originally anticipated, you should know that ahead of time. We believe patients should have a complete understanding of their treatment recommendations and costs before moving forward.
One thing to remember is that dental implant treatment often includes both a surgical phase and a restorative phase. Sometimes these are completed by different providers. For example, if an oral surgeon performs your implant surgery outside our office, their fees typically cover only the surgical portion. Our office would then provide the prosthetic treatment, including your dental implant crown, bridge, or other implant restoration.
Our goal is to guide you through the entire process so you understand the complete treatment plan, the expected timeline, and all associated costs. We want you to feel informed, comfortable, and confident, without any surprises.
Do you offer a warranty or guarantee on dental implant restorations?
Our goal is to provide treatment that lasts for many years. If something unexpected happens during the first year, we take responsibility for evaluating the situation and making it right. Fortunately, situations like that are uncommon.
The scientific literature shows that dental implants have very high success rates, although no treatment has a 100% success rate. Depending on the study, implant failure rates are generally reported to be around 2% to 5%. Overall, dental implants are an extremely successful long-term treatment option.
Our objective is to provide dental implant restorations that last well beyond 10 years. Ideally, we're thinking 10, 15, or even 20 years into the future. Dental implant treatment is a significant investment of both time and money, and we want to ensure you receive the best possible long-term outcome. That's always our goal at Dental Prosthodontics of Rochester.
Understanding your dental care options is an important part of protecting your oral health. Contact us at (585) 522-1922 or email rocprostho@gmail.com with any questions.